Spanning three generations, THE DIVINER tells the story of
the al-Ma'aliq family and the Shagara tribe as the lands
they call home are ripped apart by revenge and war. As the
only survivor of the genocide of his family, Azzad al-
Ma'aliq takes shelter with the Shagara, a desert tribe with
sacred knowledge of healing and magic. This chance
connection changes the course of both families forever.
Blessed with the Shagara's friendship, Azzad builds a
powerful and wealthy business. His son Alessid turns that
business into an empire, but it isn't until Azzad's great-
grandson Qamar is born that the implications of this
alliance are felt for better or worse.
THE DIVINER is a prequel to The Golden Key by Melanie Rawn,
Jennifer Roberson and Kate Elliott. I have not read The
Golden Key and I felt this might have hurt my understanding
of the deeper theme in this world. Don't get me wrong, the
story is great. The characters are well-rounded and
complex. Their motivations and desires are strong. The
world is fascinating and intricate. I love nothing better
than a beautifully detailed world that comes alive upon the
pages and Melanie Rawn has created such a world. The
people, customs, beliefs, and landscapes are gorgeous, but
this saga felt a little disjointed and I truly feel that
it's because I hadn't read The Golden Key first, not
because the story or writing is lacking. I think I missed
the clues that made the story hang together around a
principle theme.
I admit to being partial to certain characters. Azzad was
my favorite and it breaks my heart a bit to see his entire
life unfold. I like to pretend that my favorite characters
never die. When you have a generational saga like this,
those favorite characters age and despite my wants, they
die. It's a bittersweet emotion for a reader when those
moments occur, but even while I sniffled over Azzad's
death, I couldn't wait to see what happened next.
I do recommend THE DIVINER if you love epic fantasy because
the family and world are worth following over the
generations.
The only survivor of royal treachery that eliminates his
entire family, Azzad al-Ma'aliq flees to the desert and
dedicates himself to vengeance. With the help of the
Shagara, a nomadic tribe of powerful magicians, he will
finally be able to take his revenge - but at what cost?
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